Toggle-actuated hand tool with full stroke-compelling mechanism



G. J. FILIA May 30, 1967 3,322,003 TOGGLE-ACTUATED HAND TOOL WITH FULL STROKE-COMPELLING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '26, 1966 INVENTOR 650/265 FiL/A a. l u 3 v :1: 4 Y V p u a a a 4 5a a W Bi ,/2,;1M a. (m/4 ATTORNEY G. J. FlLiA May 30, 1967 TED HAND TOOL WITH FULL -COMPELLING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TOGGLE-ACTUA STROKE Filed April 26, 1966 INVENTOR GEORGE J /'/L M '5 BY W 5. @oadl ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 322 008 TOGGLE-ACTUATElj HAND TOOL WITH FULL STROKE-COMPELLING MECHANISM George J. Filia, Shelton, Conn., assignor to Sargent &

Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 545,289 12 Claims. (Cl. 81-313) This invention relates to a toggle-actuated hand tool having plierlike operating handles pivotally interconnected, which tool incorporates a pair of cooperating, relatively shiftable parts each carrying a work-performing element such as one of a pair of cooperating crimping dies, for example, which tool includes a mechanism for compelling motion of one of the aforementioned cooperating parts toward the other to effect a full stroke of the tool. The tool further comprises a ram or plunger carrying one work-performing element for cooperation with the other Work-performing element, the latter being provided with a stationary support from the tool. Generally speaking, the tool is of the type illustrated and described in US. Patent No. 3,080,779, issued Mar. 12, 1963. However, the tool of the present invention differs in a number of respects, perhaps the most important of which is the provision, in accordance with the invention, of means to simultaneously adjust the stroke of the shiftable work-performing element and the degree to which the stroke is compelled.

In accordance with the invention, adjustment of the stroke effects the required degree of self-compensating adjustment of the motion-compelling mechanism. The tools of US. Patent 3,204,445, issued Sept. 7, 1965, and application for US. Letters Patent, Ser. No. 386,594, filed July 31, 1964, now Patent No. 3,262,342, also have some features in common with the tool of the present invention but lack the last-mentioned feature thereof.

As previously indicated, the invention may be embodied in a hand tool of the type which may have two pivotally interconnected handle elements which may be swung relatively to one another to move one work-performing part of the tool relatively to a cooperating workperforming part. The work-performing parts of the tool may comprise crimping dies for crimping a terminal on an electrical conductor. In crimping tools of this type it is often highly desirable to control very exactly the distance of travel of one crimping die toward its companion and moreover to provide an adjustable control of this travel.

Moreover, in a crimping tool of this type it is also often helpful to provide a force-multiplying means such as a toggle connection between at least one operating handle and a shiftable die element, and it has also been found advantageous in at least some instances to associate this toggle with a rectilinearly movable part such as a ram or plunger provided for the purpose of carrying a shiftable die. In hand tools of this type attempts have been made heretofore to control not only the distance of travel of the shiftable die, but the distance of travel which may be compelled by a motion-compelling mechanism incorporated in a tool to assure that, in the operation of the tool, the dies are moved relatively toward one another a sufficient distance to satisfactorily perform the work before the dies may be separated.

In this connection it is well known that in crimping terminals to electrical conductors it is necessary to achieve both a good electrical connection between each conductor and terminal and a strong physical connection between these parts. Attempts have been made to achieve such results by providing tools having parts made to very fine tolerances or by providing in such tools a plurality of adjustment means, the adjustment of one of which means requires compensating adjustment of another. Such tools commonly comprise a relatively large number of parts and often are undesirably large and/or heavy. Moreover, it will be obvious that such tools are by reason of their nature expensive to produce.

One object of the present invention is to provide in a tool such as characterized above means of adjustment of the stroke which effects the required degree of self-compensating adjustment of the motion-compelling mechanism.

A further object is to employ a self-adjusting part of the motion-compelling mechanism as a stop to act directly on one of the handles of the tool to limit relative swinging movement of the handles in a die-closing direction.

Another object is to provide a tool of the type characterized above which may be of simplified construction which may be of an unobjectionable size and weight.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a tool embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a toggleactuated hand tool provided with a full stroke-compelling mechanism, incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating parts of the tool in different positions from those shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating in both side elevation and top plan the fully extended, adjusted position of the ram or plunger of the tool.

In the drawings the body, indicated generally at 10, of the tool may be formed as a metal casting having a relatively deep and wide recess in one side thereof in What may be termed the head of the body, the recess being indicated at 11 and being shown to advantage in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. To the body there is affixed as by suitable screws 12 a channel-shaped member 10* which may be formed of sheet metal, having an extension beyond the body portion forming a handle 13.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, work-performing elements such as cooperating crimping die elements 14 and 15 are disposed in the recess 11 in the body. The die 15 is provided with a suitable mounting so that it is in fixed relation to the body 10 while the die 14 is suitably secured to a ram or plunger 16 providing a support for the die 14 by which the latter may be reciprocated in a manner to approach and move away from the die 15. The plunger 16 is mounted for reciprocating motion in a suitable bore in the body communicating in a direction opposite that of the recess 11, with a bifurcation 17 of the body. 1

There is provided in the tool a lever, indicated generally at 18, having arms 19, 20 and 21. The distal end portion of arm 19 is received in a bifurcation 22 of the trailing end portion of the plunger 16 and pivoted to this bifurcation by a pin 23 having its axis located on the longitudinal axis of the plunger. A distance rearwardly of the pivot pin 23 the arm 19 is pivoted "by a pin 24 to a pair of links 25, one at either side of the arm 19, the connection being made to one end portion of each link 25, as viewed in FIG. 2. The other ends of the links 25 are pivoted to the body 10 by a member, indicated generally at 26, passing through the links and received in the aforementioned bifurcation of the body. The member 26 will be described in detail hereinafter.

The arm 21 constitutes a handle which, when swung relatively to the handle 13 in a manner to approach the latter, effects extension of the plunger 16 through the by operation of the handle '18 when the lever is swung in 21 aforementioned pivotal connection of the lever 18 to the plunger, as at 23, and the pivotal connection to the body, including the pivots 24, 26 and the links 25 providing a toggle mechanism. When the handle 21 is swung in the opposite direction, retraction of the plunger is effected through the aforementioned toggle mechanism.

As previously indicated, the tool includes a motioncompelling mechanism including a ratchet member, indicated generally at 28, between the links 25 supported from the body and a pawl 29 carried by the lever 18 for cooperation with the teeth of the ratchet member. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the pawl is pivoted at 30 within a bifurcation 31 of the arm 20 of the last-mentioned lever. The pawl 29 is biased by a spring 32 secured to the lever 18 to an angular position shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in the last-mentioned view, a pawl projects from the bifurcation of the arm 20. The teeth 33 of the ratchet member are formed on -a pitch line or radius from the axis of the pivotal connection of the lever 18 to the plunger 16, taking into account the movement of this axis during swinging movement of the lever 18 as 21. As previously indicated, the last-mentioned pivotal axis lies in the longitudinal median plane of the plunger 16.

An upper edge portion 35 of the ratchet member provides an-abutment limiting swinging movement of the handle 21 toward the handle 13 and, therefore, acts as a positive and direct stop for the handle-provided lever direction to extend the die-carrying plunger 16 into the recess 11 of the body. It should be noted that the lever 18 is recessed, as at 35 to receive in edgewise relation the bottoming ratchet member 28 which may be formed of plate stock. Movements of the plunger and the lever 18in the opposite directions are limited as by a collar 36 provided on the plunger and engageable with the body of the tool in the manner shown in FIG. 4.

The handles 13 and 21 of the tool are urged apart to effect the retracted position of the plunger 16 shown in the last-mentioned view by a wire spring 34 having end portions 37 supported within the channel of the member 10 providing the handle 13, and having an intermediate spiraled portion thereof supported by a transverse pin 38 received in the bifurcation 17 of the body. The spring 36 is provided with a bight portion 40 engageable with surfaces 41 of the bifurcated. arm 20 of the lever 18.

The ratchet member 28, which may be formed of plate or sheet stock, is generally of L shape, as viewed in FIG. 2, having one leg thereof receiving the aforementioned support member 26 and having in the distal end portion of the other leg thereof a longitudinally elongated recess 42 which receives a transverse pin 43, the ends of which are supported by the bifurcation 17 of the body. The pin 43 serves as a guide for adjusting movement of the ratchet member 28, the details of which will appear hereinafter, and also a pivot about which the ratchet member may move angularly as will also appear hereinafter. It should be noted that the location of this pin 43 is not far from pivot pin 23 of the handle. In the interests of providing a tool which is not bulky and overweight, the ratchet member is pivoted to the pin 43 rather than the handle pivot 23 which would otherwise be a preferable arrangement.

The aforementioned member 26 supporting the ratchet member comprises a bolt extending through the bifurcated portion 17 of the body having a polygonal head 44 engageable with one face of the body and threadedly receiving a nut 45 for cooperation with the remote face of the body, the bolt having intermediate of its ends an eccentric cylindrical portion 46 on which are supported ('FIG. 6) the aforementioned toggle links 25 and the ratchet member 28, the links being free to move angularly relatively to the ratchet member during operation of the toggle mechanism, while the ratchet member therebetween remains in fixed relation to the body.

The aforementioned teeth 33 of the ratchet member are formed along one edge portion of the ratchet member, as shown in FIG. 2. As indicated in FIG. 6, the eccentric portion 46 is received in registering holes in the links 25 and the ratchet member 28. The bolt portion 46 is closely received in the holes but not so closely that the bolt may not be turned when the nut 45 is loosened. Turning movement of the bolt, of course, effects angular movement of the axis of the eccentric portion 46, which angular movement may be employed for infinite longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 16, within a limited range, through the lever 18 and the links 25. It will also be understood that this longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 16 effects a similar degree of movement of the pawl 29 carried by the lever 18, longitudinally of the plunger.

Moreover, it will be understood that this turning movement of the bolt effects through the eccentric portion thereof movement of the ratchet member 28 generally lengthwise of the plunger 16 on the guide pin 43, while simultaneously effecting a small degree of angularmovement of the ratchet member on the last-mentioned pin. The angular movement of the ratchet member sufiiciently changes its relationship to the lever 18 to move the abutment 35, thereby changing the point at which the handle 21 is stopped by the abutment. However, as'the toothed portion of the ratchet member is in fixed relation to the abutment 35 of the ratchet member, movement of one, say, the abu-ment 35, is compensated in a self-determining manner by movement of the toothed portion of the ratchet member.

Hence it issignificant that it is unnecessary to provide in this mechanism separate means for angular compensating movement of the ratchet member on its pivot after longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 16 such as may be required in the tool of the aforementioned Patent 3,204,445. This is avoided in the present tool by pivoting the handle-providing lever 18 directly on the plunger 16 and generating the ratchet teeth from this movable pivot point.

Reference has been made to Patent 3,080,779 by reason of the similarity of the toggle mechanism employed in that tool. However, the toggle mechanism of the patented tool is not adjustable and, while the tool incorporates a motion-compelling mechanism providing a stop for the movable handle element of the toggle mechanism, the motioncompelling mechanism is only adjustable to the extent that the axis of the pawl of the motion-compelling mechanism may be adjusted angularly so that the pawl properly disengages the teeth of the ratchet with which it cooperates when the handle is stopped in the aforesaid manner.

When the handle 21 is in the open position of FIG. 4 and is thereafter swung toward the handle 13 or in a direction to close the handles, the spring-biased pawl is engaged with the ratchet member and deflected in a clock wise direction from that shown in FIG. 4 until it' engages the teeth 33 of the ratchet member and is moved thereover by continued closing movement of the handle 21, under the influence of spring 32. Once the teeth of the ratchet member have beenengaged in this manner,

the handle 21 may not be reopened until the pawl has traversed every tooth of the ratchet member and disengaged the teeth. Motion of the plunger 16 is compelled V in this manner.

The construction and arrangement of the handle-pro viding lever 18 and the ratchet member aresuch that movement of the lever is stopped by the abutment provided by the ratchet member when the pawl has disengaged the ratchet teeth in the aforementioned manner. When the handle 21 is thereafter swung in the opposite direction, the pawl is deflected in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in 'FIG. 4, and reengaged with the ratchet teeth in a manner to prevent reverse movement of the handle until the pawl has once again left the toothed portion of the ratchet member, but this time moving in the opposite direction.

Reference has been made to application, Ser. No. 386,594, filed July 31, 1964. This application also illustrates and describes a tool wherein there is provided a motion-compelling mechanism including an adjustable ratchet member carried by one handle, and a cooperating pawl carried by another handle of the tool and wherein the ratchet member or a part carried thereby provides a stop for the handle member carrying the pawl. However, there is no toggle mechanism in this tool comparable to the toggle mechanism of the tool of the instant invention, no plunger or ram and, of course, no means to adjust a ram or plunger.

To facilitate the turning of the bolt providing the eccentric pivot 46 which, as previously indicated, is in effect a pin angularly movable about the axis of the bolt to adjust the stroke of the plunger and effect a self-compensating movement of the ratchet of the motion-compelling mechanism, there is provided a socket wrench 50 (FIG. 1) of platelike form receiving the polygonal head 44 of the bolt and having one face thereof engageable with the corresponding face of the body 10, the wrench having at a point removed from the socket an arcuate slot 51 receiving a screw 52 provided with a suitable head to clamp the wrench against the body in the desired angularly adjusted position. The wrench and its cooperation with the bolt head for adjustment of the bolt is fully described in the aforementioned Patent 3,204,445 and need not be further described here.

As will be noted from the foregoing, the tool of the present invention may be employed for such operations as crimping, cutting or punching, employs a force-multiplying toggle mechanism and is of a construction such that it may be very accurately adjusted, that is, with reference of the work-engaging parts to one another, at the factory and, if necessary, in the field to compensate for parts made to relatively low tolerances, which parts are not as expensive as they would be if made to fine tolerances. The means for adjustment of the work-engaging parts of the tool also compensate, of course, for wear and overstress of the parts and may, in fact, permit accommodation of a series of dies, for example, within a certain size range.

While only one form of the tool has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those versed in the art that the invention may take other forms and is susceptible of various changes in details without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hand tool, the combination of an elongated body including at one end thereof a handle element and having in fixed relation to the other end thereof a head provided with a work-engaging part fixed thereto, a plunger mounted for sliding movement in the body toward and away from said work-engaging part in a direction lengthwise of the body and having a work-engaging part for cooperation with the first-mentioned work-engaging part, a toggle mechanism including a second handle element swingable relatively to the first-mentioned handle element and operably connected through pivotal connections to the plunger and to the body for advancing and retracting the plunger, and coacting motion-compelling means on said body and the second handle element, for said handle elements controlling relative movements therebetween and comprising an abutment-providing member engageable by one handle element to limit relative swinging movement of the handle elements in a direction to advance the plunger, and said pivotal connection between the toggle mech-- anism and the body including an elongated pivot-providing member, having a longitudinal axis, carried by the body, having a cylindrical portion thereon eccentric to said axis, which provides said pivotal connection, said pivot-providing member being angularly adjustable on its axis to thereby adjust the extent of movement by which the plunger may be advanced, said abutment-providing member of the motion-compelling mechanism also being mounted on said eccentric portion of the pivot-providing member for self-adjustment of the handle abutment on angular adjusting movement of the pivot-providing member.

2. A hand tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said second handle element is pivoted directly to the plunger.

3. A hand tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjustment-providing member is of plate form having ratchet teeth along an edge portion thereof cooperating with a biased pivotally mounted toothed member of the motion-compelling means on said one of the handle elements.

4. A hand tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said abutment-providing member is gene-rally of L shape having a leg thereof supported. on said eccentric portion of the pivot-providing member and having an opening in the other leg receiving a body-supported member for guiding movement of the abutment-providing member on adjustment of said pivot-providing member, the pitch radius of the ratchet teeth emanating from the movable swinging axis of the second handle element.

5. A hand tool as defined in claim 4 wherein said second handle element is provided by a lever having a recess formed therein receiving said handle abutment which bottoms in the means defining said recess.

6. A hand tool as defined in claim 5 wherein the tail end of the plunger extends into a bifurcation in the tail end of the body and is itself bifurcated to receive the pivotal connection of the second handle element to the plunger, and wherein said toggle mechanism further comprises a pair of. links, one on either side of said lever and having the greater part thereof within the body bifurcation, pivotally interconnecting the lever and said eccentric portion of the pivot-providing member.

7. In a hand tool, the combination of an elongated body including at one end thereof a handle element and having in fixed relation to the other end thereof a head provided with a work-engaging part fixed thereto, a plunger mounted for sliding movement in the body toward and away from said work-engaging part in a direction lengthwise of the body and having a work-engaging part for cooperation with the first-mentioned work-engaging part, a toggle mechanism including a second handle element swingable relatively to the first-mentioned handle element and operably connected through pivotal connections to the plunger and to the body for advancing and retracting the plunger, and coacting motion-compelling means on said body and the second handle element, for said handle elements controlling relative movements therebetween, and said pivotal connection between the toggle mechanism and the body including an elongated pivot-providing member, having a longitudinal axis, carried by the body, having a cylindrical portion thereon eccentric to said axis, which provides said pivotal connection, and pivot-providing member being angularly adjustable on its axis to thereby adjust the extent of movement by which the plunger may be advanced, said second handle element being pivoted directly to said plunger, said motion-compelling mechanism comprising a member on said eccentric portion of the pivotproviding member and self-adjustable on angular adjustment of the latter, said member of the motion-compelling means coacting with a member on said second handle element.

8. A hand tool as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said members of the motion-compelling means is of plate form having ratchet teeth along an edge portion thereof cooperating with said other member of the last-mentioned means, the last-mentioned member comprising a biased pivotally mounted toothed member.

9. A hand tool as defined in claim 8 wherein said member having ratchet teeth thereon is generally of L shape having a leg thereof supported on said eccentric portion of the pivot-providing member and having an opening in the other leg receiving a body-supported member for guiding movement of the last-mentioned member of the motion-compelling means on adjustment of said pivot-providing member, the pitch radius of the ratchet teeth emanating from the movable swinging axis of the second handle element.

10. A hand tool as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle element is provided by a lever having a recess formed therein receiving the greater part 'of the firstmentioned leg having ratchet teeth thereon.

11. A hand tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said first leg is provided with an edge portion providing an abutment limiting relative swinging of the handle elements to advance the plunger, the last-mentioned edge portion bottoming in the means defining the recess in said lever.

12. A hand tool as defined in claim 11 wherein the tail end of the plunger extends into a bifurcation in the tail end of the body and is itself bifurcated to receive the pivotal connection of the second handle element to the plunger, and wherein said toggle mechanism further comprises a pair of links, one on each side of said lever and having the greater part thereof within the body bifurcation, pivotally interconnecting the lever and said eccentric portion of the pivot-providing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,779 3/1963 Buchalter 81313 X 3,157,075 11/1964 Filia 81313 3,204,445 9/1965 Filia 81-313 X 3,262,342 7/1966 Filia 81-313 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

7. IN A HAND TOOL, THE COMBINATION OF AN ELONGATED BODY INCLUDING AT ONE END THEREOF A HANDLE ELEMENT AND HAVING IN FIXED RELATION TO THE OTHER END THEREOF A HEAD PROVIDED WITH A WORK-ENGAGING PART FIXED THERETO, A PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT IN THE BODY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID WORK-ENGAGING PART IN A DIRECTION LENGTHWISE OF THE BODY AND HAVING A WORK-ENGAGING PART FOR COOPERATION WITH THE FIRST-MENTIONED WORK-ENGAGING PART, A TOGGLE MECHANISM INCLUDING A SECOND HANDLE ELEMENT SWINGABLE RELATIVELY TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED HANDLE ELEMENT AND OPERABLY CONNECTED THROUGH PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO THE PLUNGER AND TO THE BODY FOR ADVANCING AND RETRACTING THE PLUNGER, AND COACHING MOTION-COMPELLING MEANS ON SAID BODY AND THE SECOND HANDLE ELEMENT, FOR SAID HANDLE ELEMENTS CONTROLLING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS THEREBETWEEN, AND SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TOGGLE MECHANISM AND THE BODY INCLUDING AN ELONGATED PIVOT-PROVIDING MEMBER, HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, CARRIED BY THE BODY, HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION THEREON ECCENTRIC TO SAID AXIS, WHICH PROVIDES SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION, AND PIVOT-PROVIDING MEMBER BEING ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE ON ITS AXIS TO THEREBY ADJUST THE EX- 